Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 Index was up 37.66 points (0.8%) at 4,505.10; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 331.58 points (1.0%) at 34,907.11; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was up 112.47 points (0.8%) at 13,926.05.The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 4.286%. CBOE’s Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.69 at 12.79.

Retailers were among the market’s strongest sectors Thursday in the wake of stronger-than-expected August retail sales reported by the Commerce Department. Energy companies also climbed as crude oil futures extended a rally and topped $90 a barrel for the first time since mid-November. Small-cap stocks joined the upswing, with the Russell 2000 Index (RUT) rising nearly 1.5% and ended at a one-week high. Volatility based on the VIX fell under 13.00 and near pre-pandemic levels of early 2020.